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This summary is provided by the STA:
Logar expresses support for fight for democracy in Belarus
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar expressed Slovenia's full support for the fight for democracy in Belarus as he hosted Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. He said that Slovenia, as the presiding EU country in the second half of the year, would put the democratisation and discussion about Belarus high on the agenda of the presidency. Tsikhanouskaya said she was grateful for Slovenia for its "strong position about lawlessness in Belarus" and that it was extremely important to keep Belarus high on the agenda on the international level.
Fundraising campaign launched for the STA
LJUBLJANA - A month-long fundraising campaign kicked off on World Press Freedom Day in a bid to secure funding for the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), which has not received budget funds for the performance of public service for four months. Called "Za obSTAnek", the campaign aims to raise two million euros for the agency via small SMS donations and from potential larger donors and kicked off with a press conference in front of the STA headquarters on Monday. National daily newspapers carried front-page stories in support of the campaign as well.
Jourova to visit Slovenia to discuss initiative on security of journalists
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova announced on World Press Freedom Day a visit to Slovenia to "test the waters" and start a dialogue on an initiative promoting security of journalists. She also also hopes to meet Prime Minister Janez Janša. She said the initiative on security of journalists was planned for September, so she would like to discuss this with Slovenian officials as the country holds the EU presidency in the second half of the year.
Ombudsman says media mustn't be hostage of election winners
LJUBLJANA - In his World Press Freedom Day message, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina described free, plural and independent media as a fundamental ingredient of democracies. "Independent media and public services are the bedrock of democratic societies, so they must not be hostage in the hands of election winners," he said. He urged the government to reinstate the financing of the STA in line with the law without any further delay, and to appropriately tackle potential shortcomings in the current funding arrangement.
PCR tests from Serbia, Turkey recognised as of Wednesday
LJUBLJANA - PCR tests done in Serbia and Turkey will be recognised as a way to avoid quarantine on arrival in Slovenia from Wednesday under an amended decree adopted by the government. There are also some changes on the red list of countries from which arrivals must quarantine, with Malta and Portugal removed from the list, and Djibouti added. Save for some exceptions, passengers from countries in the red list must quarantine unless they submit a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours, proof of vaccination, or proof of having had Covid-19 in the past six months.
Report: Prosecution rejects complaints against Tonin, Mahnič
LJUBLJANA - The prosecution rejected criminal complaints filed last year against Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Žan Mahnič, the state secretary for national security in the prime minister's office, Nova24TV reported. The complaints had been filed against Tonin in relation to the disclosure of information about the Slovenia-Croatia border arbitration agreement, and against both Tonin and Mahnič over alleged irregularities in the Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services, of which they were both members when they were still MPs.
Renovated Covid-19 units open in Slovenj Gradec
SLOVENJ GRADEC - Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the Slovenj Gradec general hospital to inaugurate refurbished Covid-19 units in an investment that has cost EUR 27,000, without beds. He praised the hospital's work and plans, noting that a bill on investment in health and long-term care was almost ready. The hospital director Janez Lavre said the refurbished surgical units that had been adjusted to meet the needs of Covid-19 patients would make sure that more beds are available for regular patients again.
Just over 200 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, six deaths
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 209 coronavirus cases on Sunday, 10% more than the same day a week ago. Another six Covid-19 patients lost their lives. Hospitalisations rose by three to 608 but ICU cases dropped by five to 147. The latest cases were confirmed from 1,380 PCR tests, for a positivity rate of 15.1%, but Mateja Logar, the head of the Covid-19 advisory team, expressed concern over rising positivity rate and case count in the past week, although she also noted that the number of active infections has been below 10,000 for the first time since 20 October last year.
Former environment minister forming new party
LJUBLJANA - Former Environment Minister Jure Leben is returning to politics to launch the Party of Green Action (Z.DEJ), whose founding congress will be held online on Saturday. In conceiving the manifesto, the main question was how to find a balance between industrial development and environment protection, he told the newspaper Delo. The new party's demands will not be based only on environmental policy, although sustainable and fair development will be at its heart.
Military exercise Defender Europe DE21 under way until July
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces are taking part in the international military exercise Defender Europe DE21, which is under way between 1 May and 5 July. Slovenian soldiers are training alongside members of 26 ally and partner countries. The purpose of the exercise is to divert potential threats and prepare the Slovenian army for its supporting role within NATO, said the head of the sector for training at the Force Command of the Slovenian army, Colonel Igor Šepec.
Major anti-trust procedure against Telekom stopped
LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency has stopped a major anti-trust procedure against the telecoms incumbent Telekom Slovenije, a decision that comes seven years after the Supreme Court annulled its original decision. Telekom said on Monday proceedings related to alleged unfair pricing of Itak Džabest, a special monthly plan for youths, between 2008 and 2010, had been stopped after the watchdog "did not manage to obtain evidence on the existence of a predatory exclusionary strategy".
Lower VAT on women's sanitary products takes effect
LJUBLJANA - The legislative changes lowering VAT on women's sanitary products from 22% to 9.5% entered into force. The initiative for the changes had come from Bojana Muršič, an MP for the opposition Social Democrats (SD), who argued that women's sanitary products in Slovenia are subject to the highest of the two VAT rates, while some other hygiene products for general use, such as cotton wool, gauze or nappies, are taxed at 9.5%.
